Perceptions of Risk of Contracting HIV among Married Men and Women in Zambia

This study explored the perceived risk of contracting HIV among the currently married men and women in Zambia. The analysis was carried out on data from the latest Zambia Demographic Health Survey (2014). Results indicated that 48% of the currently married women, and 61% of the currently married men reported low perceived risk for contracting HIV. The results also indicate that age, place of residence, wealth status, having had sex with three or more partners for the last 12 months, drinking alcohol and condom use were associated with high risk perception of contracting HIV for men. Women who had three or more sexual partners during the last 12 months were 1.5 times more likely to perceive high risk for contracting HIV than those who had less than three partners. Among the males, those who had sex with three or more sexual partners were 1.7 times more likely to perceive being at high risk for contracting HIV than those who had sex with less than three partners. Respondents from the higher socio-economic group were 1.3 times more likely to report low risk of contracting HIV as compared to those from middle and lower socio-economic group. These findings suggest that behaviour change campaigns encouraging married men and women to accurately assess their personal risk of contracting HIV should be complemented with targeted awareness messages emphasizing the positive attributes of using condom.